The versatility of conservatories is part of the reason why they are so appealing to a wide variety of homeowners, and why a suitably maintained and repaired conservatory can therefore be an appealing addition to a house when trying to sell it.
Another extra that is becoming increasingly common and desirable to homeowners is solar panels, as they can provide a substantial if not complete saving on energy bills in a way that over a few years will help them pay for themselves.
One of the biggest limitations to their use, besides the initial cost of course, is how much suitable roof space is available to you, and this has led many conservatory owners to ask if they can take advantage of the additional roof space they have on their extension.
The simple and short answer is yes; as long as your conservatory is suitable there is no reason that panels could not be installed onto it in the same way.
Of course, determining whether a conservatory is suitable is a bit more complex, but with that in mind, here are some questions you may need to ask yourself or a conservatory expert before you book the installation.
Is My Roof Strong Enough?
The biggest deciding factor will simply be whether your conservatory roof can take the additional weight of the solar panels resting on it, and this will largely depend on the age of the conservatory and the materials it is made of.
Naturally, if you have a solid roof on your conservatory made from similar materials to your home’s roof, then as long as a survey does not find any structural issues there is no reason why you cannot fit panels onto it.
Conversely, if the roof is made of plastic or polycarbonate to save weight and money, there is a risk that the lighter material simply cannot take the weight of the panels.
Even in cases where it could take the strain at full strength, the lifespan of a plastic roof is less than that of the panels that will rest on it, so some installers will not take the risk without a roof replacement.
The awkward middle ground is roofs that are primarily made of glass. Whilst fitting solar panels over the top of it kind of defeats the object of having a glass roof unless you get transparent ones, there are options such as fitting smaller panels or converting the roof to a solid roof.
Does The Roof Get Enough Sun?
Garden direction is a common dilemma when it comes to conservatory construction, as getting the most sun is not always the best option if it makes the sunroom unbearably warm, but conversely having a south-facing roof might make it perfect for solar panels.
This is not always the case though; if you have a shady, leafy garden with taller trees than the conservatory roof, you may end up blocking enough sunlight to make it not worth it, but a south-facing garden is perfect for solar power.
As well as this, make sure that the solar panels do not generate so much heat that they make the sunroom impossible to enjoy.